Schools and libraries statewide are going to receive posters of Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia that encourage kids to read.

The political pair is featured in the storwith furry creatures in the posters. But we have to ask: Governor, how come you’re not reading a budget document? Or Mountain Brew, the local beer book by Ed Sealover?

A third poster features Commissioner of Education Robert Hammond with a favorite book from his childhood, Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Former Gov. Bill Ritter and Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien were featured in a similar poster — sans the mascots — holding their favorite books, Lonesome Dove and Angle of Repose, respectively. Talk about good taste.

Recreational reading is hardly part of many Americans daily routine. We need to teach our children to read in many different ways such as to read for speed, comprehension, deep meaning and academic hard-wiring of data and content. There is so much more to teaching reading that I fear we are barely touching the subject at all for our youth. I have been disappointed on legislative day when the state organizations can come to Denver, talk to reps and get a fair meal at the state capital. We also meet with those reps from our Colorado districts and plead our case. It should be considered equal to talking to a stone wall somewhere in the desert, with the wind blowing. Program development is not popular with the conservative reps.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.